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Ham and Tomato Baked Pasta

by Laura Fuentes

December 16, 2014
updated Jul 7, 2023
5 from 16 votes
Make this cheesy baked pasta with ham and tomatoes for a delicious family meal asap!
Jump to Recipe

All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Make this cheesy baked ham and tomato pasta for a delicious family meal asap!

With minimal work and prep required, it’s the perfect restaurant-style weeknight dinner you can make at home!

tomato basil pasta baked in a baking dish

Ham & Tomato Pasta Bake

One of the things I love about this ham & tomato pasta bake is that you get that same au gratin feel like traditional baked pasta in a fraction of the time. It’s warm and cheesy and tastes like a restaurant-style meal at home.

One of the reasons I love making this recipe is that it requires little work on my end. I can also use up leftover basil pesto from another night and it’s flexible enough to use as much or little as we like.

tomato basil pasta baked in a baking dish

How to Bake Pasta in the Oven

Baking pasta in the oven is simple, and in this recipe in particular, most of it is assembled outside the oven. The oven is used to melt the cheese, create a crust, and give that oven-baked pasta feel we all expect from comfort food. 

This is how it’s done:

  1. Cook pasta
    Cook pasta according to package directions, al dente. Drain when ready and set aside.
  2. Sauté
    Meanwhile, heat up olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and saute for 3 minutes until the onions have softened and are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. 
  3. Make the sauce
    Add the ham to the pan and saute it for about a minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and pesto sauce. Mix and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
  4. Add the pasta
    Once the sauce is ready, add the pasta and ricotta cheese to the pan, and combine. Turn off the heat and transfer the hot pasta mixture into a baking dish. 
  5. Let’s get cheesy!
    Distribute the mozzarella cheese over the top and then sprinkle it with parmesan cheese on top.
  6. Bake to perfection
    Position the oven rack in the top ⅓ of the oven, place the baking dish inside, and broil on high for 2 minutes until the top cheese layer is melted and golden. 
  7. Enjoy!
    Remove from the oven and serve immediately. 

Do You Have to Cook Pasta Before Baking It?

For best results, I recommend cooking pasta before baking it al dente, which means just a little stiff and not mushy. Overboiling pasta is not a good idea either: it could get too soft while baking it.

What to Serve with Ham Pasta Bake

Do you want to make this pasta even tastier? Serve this epic meal with the best side dishes for pasta, and add more flavor and texture! Here are some delicious ideas:

  • Simple Bruschetta Salad
  • Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
  • Easy Popovers

Ham & tomato Pasta Bake

Laura Fuentes
5 from 16 votes
Make this cheesy baked pasta with ham and tomatoes for a delicious family meal asap!
Servings: 8
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 16 oz pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 oz ham, cubed
  • 28- ounce can of crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup pesto, store-bought or homemade, about 4oz
  • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions, al dente. Drain when ready and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat up the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, and saute for 3 minutes until the onions have softened and are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. 
  • Add the ham to the pan and saute it for about a minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and pesto sauce, mix and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
  • Once the sauce is ready, add the pasta and ricotta cheese, and combine the ingredients. Turn off the heat and transfer the hot pasta mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. 
  • Distribute the mozzarella cheese over the top and then sprinkle it with parmesan cheese on top.
  • Position the oven rack in the top ⅓ of the oven, place the baking dish inside, and BROIL on HIGH for 2 minutes until the top cheese layer is melted and golden. 
  • Remove from the oven and serve immediately. 

Notes

The ham is optional. Sometimes I will add ½ cup chopped nitrate free pepperoni and my kids say it tastes like baked pizza. 

Equipment

Dinner Meal Plan
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Meal Prep’d

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 478kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 25gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 1024mgPotassium: 513mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 759IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 336mgIron: 3mg
Like this recipe?Rate and leave a comment below

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ella

    February 11, 2023 at 10:57 am

    5 stars
    I made this tomato baked pasta last night. It was delicious. My family loved it.

    Reply
  2. Anna

    May 14, 2020 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    I made this with extra ham and some pepperoni seared in a hot pan, then I substituted 1.5 cups of Classico 4 Cheese Tomato Cream sauce instead of the pesto sauce. Used high protein Barilla penne. It turned out AWESOME. I had no idea ham could be so good like this. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      May 15, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      That sounds like a delicious substitution, Anna! I am glad it was a winner.

      Reply
  3. Leilani

    November 05, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Hi there, what are the exact measurements supposed to be for the other ingredients?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      November 06, 2016 at 8:46 pm

      all the ingredients for the recipe are in the recipe card. enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Becky

    November 22, 2015 at 5:33 am

    5 stars
    Hi Laura!

    Do you have any suggestions for a basil pesto substitute? Unfortunately, one of my sons has a nut allergy.

    Becky

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      November 22, 2015 at 10:50 am

      Hi Becky! you can make your own nut-free pesto by substituting the nuts with sunflower seeds. If you can’t have seeds, just omit the nut/seeds all together and make a fresh basil paste. You are going after the flavors with the basil. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Erin

    December 23, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and it was great! My husband and toddler both liked it too, which is a feat in itself. Nice to be able to put something together so quickly that actually ends up having such great flavor – that never happens. This is a keeper. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      December 30, 2014 at 5:17 pm

      Success!! One meal for the whole family!

      Reply

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